Detection of KI WU and Merkel cell polyomavirus in respiratory tract of cystic fibrosis patients. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iaria, M.; Caccuri, F.; Apostoli, P.; Giagulli, C.; Pelucchi, F.; Padoan, R.F.; Caruso, A.; Fiorentini, S.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 21:Number 6(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 603.e9
• Page End: 603.e15
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Cystic fibrosis -- emerging respiratory viruses -- Merkel cell polyomavirus -- molecular epidemiology -- polyomaviruses -- Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2015.01.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

Abstract: In the last few years, many reports have confirmed the presence of WU, KI and Merkel cell (MC) polyomaviruses (PyV) in respiratory samples wordwide, but their pathogenic role in patients with underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis is still debated. To determine the prevalence of MCPyV, WUPyV and KIPyV, we conducted a 1-year-long microbiological testing of respiratory specimens from 93 patients with cystic fibrosis in Brescia, Italy. We detected PyV DNA in 94 out of 337 analysed specimens. KIPyV was the most common virus detected (12.1%), followed by WUPyV (8.9%) and MCPyV (6.8%). We found an intriguing association between the presence of MCPyV and the concurrent isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as with the patient status, classified as chronically colonized with P. aeruginosa . Our study adds perspective on the prevalence and the potential pathogenic role of PyV infections.